Although the song, “Better Than I’ve Ever Been,” never appeared on a studio album, the track was nominated for best rap performance by a duo or group. Nike is listed as the record label in the credits.

The collaboration, which contributed to West’s eight Grammy nominations, is yet another sign of the changes sweeping the music business. With the major recording companies in trouble, big brands such as Nike are stepping into the breach.

Despite the lack of a major distribution deal, the music video for the song got plenty of play on YouTube along with music-video outlets BET, MTV and VH1. The song, which also got radio play, was sold exclusively on Apple’s iTunes.

“It points to a changing music-industry landscape,” said Michael Paoletta, vice president of marketing for GMR Entertainment, a music and entertainment-marketing firm.

Although rapper Nas mentions the sneaker in one line (“I’m classic like the Air Ones, the Hustler shoe, that’s what I’m accustomed to”), Nike said the track isn’t an overt ad for the Air Force 1 shoe nor did it appear as background music in commercials for the shoe.

“We never wanted this to be perceived as a Nike commercial,” said Rob Stone, the founder and co-president of Cornerstone, the marketing-promotions company that executive produced the song.